Captain America: Brave New World (2025)
Rating: 3 of 10 Stars
Captain America: Brave New World was supposed to be a pivotal moment for Marvel, ushering in a new era for the iconic character. Instead, what we got was yet another lackluster entry in a growing list of Marvel misfires. After the cinematic highs of the earlier phases, it feels like the studio is still fumbling its way through a confusing identity crisis.
Let's start with the basics. The film tries to establish a new Captain America in Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie), but it never fully commits to exploring the weight of the role or what it means in today's world. There are glimpses of what could have been, but they're drowned out by an overstuffed plot that can't decide if it wants to be an action-packed blockbuster or a social commentary. The tone shifts are jarring, and it's clear that the script is trying to check every box, from global stakes to emotional depth, without ever fully succeeding at any of them.
Unfortunately, this isn't an isolated problem. Marvel, in recent years, seems to have lost its understanding of its core audience. It's as if the studio has forgotten what made the early films resonate. Captain America: Brave New World feels like it's trying to appease everyone while pleasing no one. Is it aiming for the same comic book crowd that propelled the MCU to global dominance, or is it trying to reach out to a broader, more casual audience? The film doesn't know, and in doing so, it dilutes everything that made the franchise stand out.
The action sequences, which used to be Marvel's bread and butter, fall flat. The choreography feels stale, and the stakes never feel as high as they should. In a world where audiences have grown accustomed to bold, innovative action, Brave New World feels like it's stuck in the past, rehashing old tropes without bringing anything fresh to the table.
Ultimately, Captain America: Brave New World is a film that doesn't know what it wants to be, and that indecisiveness shows. As a long-time fan of the MCU, I walked out of the theater feeling deflated. This wasn't the bold new chapter I was hoping for, but rather another disappointing chapter in what feels like a series of misses. Marvel has always been a brand that knew how to deliver a satisfying experience, but with each passing film, it seems like that understanding is slipping further away. The question remains: who is Marvel making these films for anymore?
Im Rae Serbeck, I Watch and Review all movies Large and Small!
